Today’s business environment is changing. A business that is well known to be putting the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into practice, both in the workforce and in the products and services it offers to customers, is more likely to project a positive public image in the community and achieve high levels of staff morale and motivation.

Championing CSR in Hertfordshire is an exciting partnership project led by Community Action Dacorum.

Volunteer Centres are involved in promoting the potential of Employer Supported Volunteering to voluntary and community sector organisations. Over 100 organisations have had visits from Volunteer Centre staff and soon there will be a toolkit to help them set up successful partnerships with businesses.

Volunteering is just one of the ways in which the private sector can get involved in communities. 

Community Action Dacorum is hosting a project called Connect Dacorum, which promotes CSR in its broadest context. CSR comes in many forms:-

Employer supported volunteering schemes are becoming very popular, with many companies allocating time for staff to participate. Volunteering can be a tool for personal development and it also improves morale and motivation. Volunteer Centres have information about potential team challenges and individual placements for employee volunteers.

10 Top Tips for businesses considering employer supported volunteering
Think about the reasons you would like to get involved
Evaluate the skills your staff have to offer
Ask your staff who already volunteers
Decide on budgets and time off.
Write a brief volunteering policy
Find out what the local community needs
Choose your charity partners
Promote your programme
Evaluate
Enjoy it!

Team challenges are good for team building:
Take the team talent test!

Others ways to help:-

Give a Gift
Offer redundant equipment or furniture to a good cause or the use of meeting or conference facilities for AGMs etc.

Give Financial Donations
Raise money through sponsorship, event days, social evenings, competitions, etc. Employee and company donations to a charity are tax free.

Employ a Disabled or Disadvantaged Person
Employ disabled or disadvantaged people either full time, part time or on a work experience basis.

Become a more environmentally friendly company
Recycle office paper, cardboard and printer cartridges, or adopt a car sharing scheme to become more environmentally friendly.

Offer Technical / Professional Support
Share skills and expertise in marketing, IT, law, finance, etc with a start up company or local charity. Trustees with these skills are often needed by local charities.